Zonai Empire

Zonai Empire Zōnayīlaṅka
Location of the Zonai Empire at its proclamation
Empire at its greatest extent under Āśayapōkva
Capital and largest city	Tanajaṭīlampaṅ
Official languages	Zonai
Common languages	Palmoraean, Atunese, Florian, Keelayi, Guchni, Cora-Faronese, Baumeri, Deyani, Oseiri, Lomei, Ancient Sheikah, Proto-Hylian, Koholi
Religion	Zonai polytheism
Demonym(s)	Zonai
Government	Hegemonic oligarchic monarchy
• King	Akuḻnavakāṭṭa (founder) Āśayapōkva (territorial maximum) Māṭṭazinkata (imperial twilight)
Sovereign entity  (All dates given relative to the founding of the Empire)
Historical era	Sky Era
• Tanajaṭīlampaṅ founded	c. -450
• Akuḻnavakāṭṭa crowned	-8
• Imperial Proclamation	1
• Civil War	82—95
• Stagnation of the First Century	c. 95—c. 201
• Conquest of the Lomei	201—220
• Subjugation of the East	238—c. 250
• Āśayapōkva crowned	251
• Oseira War	252—255
• Hundred Years' Peace	255—374
• Māṭṭazinkata crowned	374
• Lomei Uprising	377—390
• Fall of Tanajaṭīlampaṅ	428
Area
• Territorial max	783,300 km2 (302,400 sq mi)
Population
• Estimate	4.5 million (at the death of Āśayapōkva)
• Density	5.74/km2 (14.9/sq mi)
Preceded by Succeeded by Tanajaṭīlampaṅ Lomei Confederacy Necludan peoples Koholint culture Lomei Empire Koholint kingdom Necludan peoples Sheikah Civilisation

The Zonai Empire (Zonai: Zōnayīlaṅka [ zo:n̪əji:ləŋɡə ], literally "Country of the Zonai") began as a hegemonic alliance between several of the Zonai city states in the Dracozu basin under the leadership of the Kings of Tanajaṭīlampaṅ. Despite the initial conception of the alliance as self-governing independent states, Tanajaṭīlampaṅ became dominant culturally, economically, and militarily. By the proclamation of the Empire by the Tanajaṭī king Zōnayī Akuḻnavakāṭṭa, the other members of the alliance had already taken subsidiary roles.

The Empire engaged in wars of conquest and expanded rapidly after its formation. At its height, it controlled most of modern Hyrule south of Necluda and the Squabble River. Zonai rule has been described as hegemonic or indirect; the Zonai left rulers of conquered cities and tribes in power so long as they agreed to pay semi-annual tribute and provide military forces when needed for Zonai war efforts. In return, the imperial authority offered protection and political stability, and facilitated an integrated economic network of diverse lands and peoples who had significant local autonomy.

The state religion of the empire was polytheistic, worshiping a diverse pantheon that included dozens of deities and often incorporated new deities from conquered peoples. Many had officially recognized cults large enough so that the deity was represented in the central temple precinct of the capital of Tanajaṭīlampaṅ. The imperial cult, specifically, was that of the goddess Ōḻṭona, a protector deity shared by the Zonai, Lomei, and Ubota. Peoples in conquered provinces were allowed to retain and freely continue their own religious traditions, so long as they added the imperial goddess Ōḻṭona to their local pantheons.

After 4 centuries of imperial rule, the Zonai Empire began to fall into a steep decline, fueled both by internal factors such as the Lomei Uprising, a series of weak rulers, economic hardships, and by external factors such as the beginning of the Resettlement of the Surface by the Sheikah and the Hylians. 428 years after the Empire was proclaimed, it ended with the Fall of Tanajaṭīlampaṅ to the up-and-coming Lomei Kingdom.